Rep. Mike Miller and Others Eye Murphy’s Congressional Seat

Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D) surprised the country when she unseated incumbent Republican Congressman John Mica in the 2016 general election.

Murphy campaigned as a true progressive, but that isn’t why she beat Mica. Mica lost re-election because he ran a terrible campaign, dismissing any chance of losing, and sticking to antiquated GOP campaigning practices.

While Murphy proved to be too much for Mica, can the political newbie take on and defeat a more nuanced Republican congressional candidate in 2018?

Rep. Mike Miller (R), a former Marco Rubio fundraiser, says he is going to run for Congress against Murphy, as is 65-year-old state Senate David Simmons (R).

Simmons is no spring chicken, so Miller, who is only 49, could come off as fresher, younger alternative to counter Murphy’s charisma and youth.

But wait, what about Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg?

The 36-year-old tax collector can instantly crush his opposition by dropping a million or two dollars from his piggy bank.

Greenberg is already being eyed by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) as a prospective congressional candidate, and its ‘digital dude,’ Rep. Matt Gaetz (R), thinks he is the next best thing since Matzo ball soup.

“We need more innovative and disruptive leaders like Joel Greenberg in our party and in our congress. He’s shaking things up in Seminole County and that’s exactly what we need more of in Washington.”-Rep. Matt Gaetz (R)

Regardless of whether not someone like Greenberg gets in this central Florida GOP primary race, Murphy will have to contend with a Republican opponent that won’t make the same campaign mistakes Rep. Mica made.